• Record tides flood California coast as Huntington Beach declares emergency and warnings persist

    ByReet Kaur

    Exceptionally high tides have flooded coastal communities across California since October 26, 2026, inundating homes, businesses and roads, forcing closures along Pacific Coast Highway and prompting a local emergency declaration in Huntington Beach. Water levels set a new record at San Diego, while the National Weather Service extended coastal flood advisories around San Francisco, San Pablo and Monterey bays through Sunday, November 1.

  • High tides bring coastal flood alerts to California

    ByRishav Kothari

    A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for the San Diego and Orange County coasts through October 29, 2026, as high tides and elevated water levels threaten roads and low-lying property. The National Weather Service (NWS) also has Coastal Flood Advisories for other shoreline areas, including Los Angeles-area beaches, San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay and Humboldt Bay.

  • Flash-flood risk rises in Southern California, severe storms threaten Arizona

    ByRishav Kothari

    Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are forecast across the U.S. Southwest from October 21 into October 23, 2026, as a deep Pacific low draws tropical moisture inland. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) placed parts of Southern California and the Southwest under a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall for October 21, while the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed parts of central and eastern Arizona under a separate Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms.

  • Multiple wildfires prompt evacuations during the first Santa Ana event of the season in Southern California

    ByRishav Kothari

    Multiple wildfires broke out across Southern California on October 15, 2026, prompting evacuation orders and road closures during the season’s first moderate-to-strong Santa Ana wind event. The Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton reached 568 ha (1 404 acres), while the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) listed the Bryson Fire near Malibu at approximately 41 ha (102 acres) with 0% containment in its evening update.

  • Evacuation orders remain near Santa Clarita after Bouquet Fire burns 424 ha (1 048 acres) in Los Angeles County, California

    ByRishav Kothari

    Evacuation orders remained in effect northeast of Santa Clarita early on October 5, 2026, after the Bouquet Fire burned 424 ha (1 048 acres) in the Angeles National Forest and reached 48% containment late on October 4. The fire expanded from 8 ha (20 acres) to approximately 405 ha (1 000 acres) in less than 3.5 hours on October 3, prompting road and recreation-area closures.

  • California heat wave triggers Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings through October 8

    ByRishav Kothari

    A long-duration October heat wave is affecting California under an anomalous ridge over the western United States, with Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings in effect from Northern and Central California into Southern California. The NOAA/NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) forecasts October 3 as the hottest day of the short-range period, with temperatures about 8–11°C (15–20°F) above normal and some valleys reaching approximately 42°C (107°F).

  • California declares statewide emergency as very strong El Niño develops ahead of 2026-27 winter

    ByRishav Kothari

    California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a statewide emergency on September 21, 2026, to accelerate preparations for potential flooding, landslides, coastal hazards and other winter impacts as a strengthening El Niño develops in the tropical Pacific. NOAA said there is a greater than 90% chance the event will become very strong during Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter 2026–27.

  • Two killed in firefighting helicopter crash during Dome Fire response in California

    ByReet Kaur

    Two people were killed when a firefighting helicopter crashed during the Dome Fire response in Mariposa County, California, on September 20, 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Eurocopter AS332-series helicopter crashed at approximately 14:55 PDT (21:55 UTC) with two people aboard. FlyPrecision subsequently confirmed the deaths of two members of its team. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with the FAA participating.

  • Palos Fire destroys 2 homes, damages 2 outbuildings and injures 2 in La Habra Heights, California

    ByRishav Kothari

    The Palos Fire burned approximately 7 ha (17 acres) in La Habra Heights, Los Angeles County, on September 14, 2026, destroying two homes, damaging two outbuildings and injuring one civilian and one firefighter. Firefighters stopped the fire’s forward progress, containment reached 41%, and evacuation warnings were later lifted.

  • Bay Area heat wave brings temperatures up to 11°C (20°F) above normal, unhealthy air quality, and Major HeatRisk, California

    ByRishav Kothari

    A heat wave across the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast brought temperatures well above normal on September 9, 2026, with daytime highs and overnight lows forecast 6–11°C (10–20°F) above normal and widespread Moderate to Major HeatRisk across the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the heat would persist through September 10, with inland highs reaching approximately 32–41°C (90–105°F), while the Bay Area Air District issued a Spare the Air Alert as ground-level ozone was forecast to reach unhealthy levels in parts of the Bay Area.